Tuesday, 18 March 2014

(A New) Interview with Victor Whipstriker

Here's the interview I did forIron Fistlast year with Victor Whipstriker that I've been promising to share with you eager maniacs for some time now. I was simply waiting for that issue to be outdated by a newer one before posting it. Enjoy and support REAL METAL!

AFITFOG: First up, can I start with a question I meant to ask the first time I interviewed you—how exactly did you get the name Whipstriker?Victor Whipstriker: I really don't remember. I only remember that 'Whip' comes from Venom's track "Sadist (Mistress of the Whip)". It was just a nickname I started to use in Diabolic Force in 2001. Then when I decided to start a one-man band I choose Whipstriker because it seems a band name. But there's no a interesting meaning behind that.

Ha, it is a great band name, so well done in keeping it. So, for the readers of Iron Fist magazine, can you give a bit of an introduction to Whipstriker and the new record.
Well, we started in 2008. The first idea was only record some stuff and work like a studio band. But I really love to play live, so we started to play some shows after the first releases. We recorded a lot since 2008—two demos, two albums, and six 7" EP splits. Some more stuff is coming, like the new splits with Apokalyptic Raids, Bulldozing Bastards, Raw Poison, Kriegg, Alcoholic Force, etc.
About the new album, we recorded it very fast. I think there was only four or five sessions. It was released in partnership with four labels—Kill Again, Hell Music, Urubuz, and Fuck the Mainstream, We are the Mainstream. The LP version will be released soon by Evil Spells in Germany and the tape version by Muerte Negra in the USA. Basically, the plan is keep on recording and playing gigs.

You planning any tours to promote the record?
We want to play in the USA next year, 20 or 25 shows would be nice, but we have problems with visas. If some of us are denied, we cannot go. And if that happens we will play another European tour, perhaps playing in some countries we didn't play last time.

So you will only play Europe if you can't guarantee access for everyone to USA?
Yes. We'll go to europe if some of us cannot get the visa for the US. [And this has now been confirmed. European tour begins November 2014]

Alright. Do you play all instruments on the record?
No, I play bass, rhythm guitars and vocals. The guys from Farscape play drums and guitars solos.

Say, last time we spoke you said the next album would be a Farscape one?
Yes, and it is out now. It was released by Kill Again Records on CD. The LP is coming soon from Mutilation Records.

How did it come out, are you happy with it?
Yes, I like the final result. I think it is our best stuff. It could be dirtier, but OK!

Ah okay, cool. So, hey. What is the track "We Came from the Wild Lands" all about exactly?
It's simple—we really live in the wild lands. Brazil is fucking wild and savage. There's a civil war in my city, Rio de Janeiro. You know, the state against the drug dealers. Many people die everyday here and there are many dangerous areas where you can see children holding guns—is it not wild?

The track "Troopers of Mayhem" is a track about this war we live in our everyday lives—blood, corpses, guns, mutilated children. It's our landscape.

Damn man, that sounds savage alright. Have you ever been a victim of crime in Rio? And aren't things getting better with the World Cup next year and the Olympics in 2016?
Yes. I have been a victim for many times and my friends too. About the World Cup, I am totally against it. They are not solving the problems. The violence has stopped only in tourist areas. The government is wasting money with these things and we don't have good schools and hospitals.

Yeah, that is exactly what is being told on the news here in Europe—nobody wants a World Cup in a country where the infrastructure needs attention more. How bad have the protests been?
People are destroying everything in the downtown. Nobody is happy with the World Cup. Now the city is more expensive to live and we are still without the basic infrastructures. I am going to the protests always I can.

Shit, sounds crazy. Do you think this is what is the driving force in ways behind your prolific music career?
Yes, for sure. I like to talk about these issues in some lyrics, but I don't think it is a influence for the music career. It's hard to be a headbanger here. Everything is expensive. We usually play in shit places with horrible equipment. The promoters have no money to organise a good underground show and the headbangers have no money to pay for an expensive ticket. The good venues are exclusive for other styles like samba, boss Nova, jazz, etc. Brazil is a big country, so it's hard to play tours because the distances between the cities are so vast. There are many problems. Believe me, we are diehard headbangers.

Do you think people look down on metalheads in Brazil?
Yes, there are many preconception in Brazil. Everybody looks down when you pass. Brazil is totally conservative and people think you are a drug junkie if you have long hair, tattoos, leather jackets, etc. But we don't give a shit about them, it keeps us strong!

That's pretty much how it is here in Ireland and England pretty much too, even though that's where heavy metal COMES FROM. So you still watching football or totally boycotting it altogether now?
No man, I don't give a shit for football now.

This interview was done over Skype, and while I was waiting for his answers to come I was looking on his Facebook page when I came across this lady:

STOOOPPPP!!! Who is this girl in the picture???

HA! I saw her on your Facebook page, followed some links, and got to there basically. Her name is Laure Rosenoire? She is posted on your page in some bunny suit or something, haha [and, having just checked, is now half-wearing a Whipstriker shirt on his page, ugh!].
Oh yeah! Laure! I love her, haha! I have composed a song for her for the next album... She is a Whip' fan. Her boyfriend organized our gig in Belgium. Good girl and metalhead.

Bonus! Alright, back to the music. How come some Whipstriker stuff has a way more d-beat/Swedish punk Anti-Cimex-vibe and some not at all? Like, the demos seem to have almost a totally different sound to albums and one or two splits.

I always try to mix all my influences, that's why each release has a different identity. The demos are more Swedish crust like Anti-Cimex and Crude SS. On the other hand, the albums and EPs are more in the UK vibe—Venom, Motorhead, Warfare. I like many different styles from rock 'n' roll to death metal. At the same time, I'm a big fan of Thin Lizzy and Sarcófago. Indeed I don't want to be trapped in only one style. You can see these different influences on "Troopers of Mayhem". You can find Venom, Tank, Thin Lizzy, Celtic Frost, Black Sabbath, Bathory, and Discharge.

Alright, killer. You love the true 80s sound and it tells! Who is doing your artwork these days?
Each release was done by a different guy. The artwork for the new album was made by Jeferson Pizoni. He is a punk friend and I really like his work. He is a punk guy so his price is fucking good for me. He asked me around €25 for this art. There are other guys like Marcio Blasfemador, Umberto, and others.

Wow, amazing price—I want one! I thought maybe he did the artwork for Worshippers Of Death and Brazilian Bestial Attack also?
Kill me, but I forgot the name of the guy who made both of these arts.

Haha okay, fair enough. So thanks again for another killer interview, I had a blast listening to it all.

Great man!!! THANX FOR THE SUPPORT!As mentioned in the article, Whipstriker will be touring Europe, November 2014. Keep an eye on his page for more info.If you missed the first interview with Victor, click here. If you missed the mix he did for me last year, click here.